CombinatoRx discontinues CRx-140 as an oral product candidate for psoriasis

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., Feb. 22 - CombinatoRx, Inc. announced Wednesday the preliminary results of its randomized, blinded, controlled, phase 2 clinical trial of CRx-140 in patients with psoriasis, which showed that statistical significance of the primary and secondary efficacy endpoints of reduction in PGA and PASI versus active control was not achieved.

"The preliminary results from this first phase 2a trial of CRx-140 are clearly disappointing," said Jan Lessem, chief medical officer, in a company statement.

"Both CRx-140 and low dose cyclosporine decreased PGA and PASI, but the results of the two arms were not statistically different nor was the magnitude of the effects sufficient to warrant further development."

CRx-140 was generally well-tolerated. These results, taken within the context of the CombinatoRx portfolio of product candidates, are not supportive of further clinical evaluation of CRx-140 as an oral, systemic product candidate for psoriasis, according to a company news release.

"Given the potential of the overall CombinatoRx portfolio, we have decided to discontinue development of CRx-140 as an oral product candidate for psoriasis," Alexis Borisy, president and chief executive officer, said in the statement.

"CRx-140 was one of a portfolio of seven product candidates that CombinatoRx is currently testing in phase 2 clinical trials, and we look forward to reporting data from these trials throughout the year."

This trial was a multi-center, blinded, controlled, parallel design, randomized study of the effect of a 12-week treatment of CRx-140 compared to low-dose cyclosporine in a 1:1 ratio with primary endpoints of Physician Global Assessment and safety in subjects with severe psoriasis and a secondary endpoint of Psoriasis Area Severity Index.

Based in Boston, CombinatoRx is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing new medicines built from synergistic combinations of approved drugs, designed to attack disease on multiple fronts.

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